i play baby and green sprouts

Who They Are

Founder and mother Becky Cannon began her journey to creating i play., Inc while living in Japan. There, she became inspired by stylish, dependable baby products with unique function, all made from natural materials. As a mother of two daughters, these products made a difference in her life, and she wanted to share that with the world. What started as a small mail-order business began to grow into a collective of hundreds of natural baby products.

Today, Becky and her two daughters Emi and Mari are the mother-daughter owners of i play., Inc, which consists of the sub-brands i play. baby and green sprouts. As a family-owned and operated company, they stay true to their values by supporting family values and empowering women and mothers.
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Why We Like Them

i play views business as an interconnected and regenerative ecosystem. They push boundaries in the child development industry by placing sustainability and transparency above all else, highlighting a healthy and positive work environment, safe manufacturing practices, and a commitment to maintaining our planet’s natural systems. They don’t stop at safety and basic employee standards; they go above and beyond, encouraging a strong sense of enthusiasm and community in the workplace.

The close-knit company of 65+ full-time team members celebrates women in the workforce, with 68% of their management being women. In addition, they are a member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), using their influence to create positive change for business women everywhere. They are an Organic Trade Association member, and partner with the Healthy Child Healthy World/Environmental Working Group.

i play., Inc values team building retreats, equal opportunity, third-party testing, OSHA Safety Standards, and generous health insurance for all of the employees who are the foundation of their company. They emphasize innovative thinking and encourage education in many forms. From employee cooking and yoga classes, tuition reimbursement for students, contests, and baby showers, they continue to push their employees to be their best selves. This attitude towards fun and celebration promotes a positive work environment that is apparent in their fun products!

i play., Inc focuses on preserving our current environment, for now and future generations. By reducing their negative impact and making positive changes wherever possible, they continually aim to be a leader in sustainability. All their wood products are created from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Wood, and they use natural and sustainable resources in their production, reusing and recycling materials whenever possible. Their catalogs and shipping supplies also employ recycled and recyclable materials and they use vegetable-based inks in marketing materials. As a company, they come together as a community to clean-up local rivers and advocate for citywide green spaces and bike paths.

Family Business

Empowers Women

FSC Certified Wood

Plant Based Resin

Organic Cotton

This product is made by a family-owned business. EarthHero loves to support and empower businesses built around strong family values.

This company promotes the empowerment of women by providing safe employment opportunities and working conditions, promoting community programs and gender equality, or donating time or funds towards women’s education and empowerment opportunities.

Products with the Forest Stewardship Council certification are made from or with wood sourced from FSC managed forests. FSC standards ensure the respect and wellbeing of indegneous peoples, forest workers, and local communities. Harvesting in certified forests maintains the ecological functions of each habitat. FSC prohibits the use of pesticides, GMOs, and the conversion of forests to plantations. As a third party, not-for-profit agency, FSC provides nonbiased audits of forest management.

Plant Based Resins are used as an alternative to fully-synthetic plastics. Instead of using Petroleum as the main base ingredient to form plastic, some companies have started replacing a portion of the ingredients with plant and vegetable extracts. This lowers the amount of resources extracted to create purely synthetic products, and often provides a use for agricultural byproducts such as corn or flax. Some plant based resins are made from 100% plant materials, and can be composted in industrial facilities. EarthHero recommends checking with your local compost facility to determine which items are safe to compost.

Organic cotton production uses zero chemical pesticides and fertilizers, promoting a healthier use of land and decreasing harmful agricultural runoff. By steering clear of toxic chemicals, workers experience less exposure to hazardous conditions, promoting social responsibility as well as environmental stewardship. Plus, farming methods for organic cotton have been shown to use up to 20% less water than nonorganic production methods. Choosing organic cotton eliminates the use of insecticides and other harmful chemicals, promotes efficient resource use, and results in a safer products and a cleaner planet!